The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-06-17
NO. 40.
JAVA ANp ITS PEoPLE.
Present Condition OF the Most Fertile
Island I'm the Tropics.

Present Condition of the Most Fertile
Island in the Tropics.
Java is recorded as the most fertile
and prosperous tropical island on the
globe 1t is south of Borneo, and the
fourth island of the Malayan archipel-
ago in size, having IN area of 50,260
square miles. 1t is a colonial possess
sion of Holland The surface of the
island is mountainous, a range of lofty
peaks running from one end of the
island to the other, and another range
skirting the south coast. All Of these
mountains are of volcanic formation,
and there are on the island thirty-eight
volcanoes, the most Of them constantly
active. Some of the most terrible erup-
tions on record have occurred on this
island. among which may be mentioned
the outbreaks of the volcano Papanday-
ang in the year 1872, of Galunggong in
1922 and Krakatoa in 1882. Between
the peaks of the mountains in the CEN
trail part of the island are several plat
eaus which are very fertile, and have a
delightful climate, owing to their ele-
vation above the hot districts of the
shore. Along the north side of the island
All of the island is well watered. The
seasons are two, the wet and the dry,
and the temperature of the island is
very equable. All tropical fruits, birds
and animals abound in the lowlands,
and on the high plateaus all grains and
fruits of temperate climates can be sue
cessfully raised. Java is one of the
principal coffee-growing countries in
the world; sugar is next in Importance;
then comes rice, of which two crops
are annually raised; indigo, pepper, tea
and tobacco are also exported. The
population of Java is estimated at over
$500, 600. About 80, 600 Europeans
reside on the island; there are also
about 10000 Chinese, and some co.
300 Arabs and other foreign orientals;
&he rest are natives. The Javanese are
almost entirely occupied in agricul-
ture, though they have some knowledge
of the mechanic arts, and make bricks
and tiles, build houses and boats, and
work in metals with some skill. The
women of the country also weave a
stout cotton cloth and make a coarse
silk cloth from raw silk imported from
China. The ancestors of the present
race of Javanese must have had con-
siderable knowledge of architecture,
judging from the remarkable speci-
mems of ancient temples, most of them
in ruins, to be seen throughout the isl-
and, but this knowledge has been en-
tirely lost. The Javanese have made
some progress in music, of which they
are passionately fond, and they have
both wind and stringed Instruments
In religion the Javanese are Mohamme-
dams, this faith having been established
among them by the Arabs in the fif-
teenth century. The principal unit in
Javanese politics is the village, whose
officers are all elected by the people,
and are charged wich the collection Of
the taxes and the maintenance of pub
lie order. The native rulers are allowed
by the Dutch to retain their rank and
nominal power as regents. but the real
power is in the Governor-General APP
pointed by the Netherlands Govern
ment, who is assisted by a Vice-Presi-
dent and council of four, and has his
orders direct from the King Of Holland.
Chicago Inter ocean.